Stone-Cold Heart

Two Warriors,Two Hearts,One Chance at Love

After centuries of stone-cold death, Garrett discovers his legion has deserted him. Without their help, he’ll succumb to eternal sleep once more unless he can trick the woman who woke him into trusting him with her soul.

A combat veteran scarred inside and out…

Her last night in Afghanistan, Raquel Guerrero’s team fell victim to a suicide bomber, killing everyone but her. Now, despite her determination to never again let anyone close, her sense of duty compels her to help an endangered warrior survive.

Trust isn’t in their vocabularies…

A tentative truce frees them to investigate his regiment’s abandonment—and unleashes passionate temptations. But when the truth is uncovered, Garrett and Raquel’s fragile bond—and the healing power of love—might be the only thing that keeps them alive.

Welcome to the Mythos Legacy,where real myths find real love!

Each standalone story in the series can be read in any order (and ends happily!), but if you’re new to the series, check out Unintended Guardian, the free introduction to the world. I hope you enjoy these contemporary fantasy/paranormal romances, where mythological beings like shapeshifting gargoyles find their perfect match among humans.

Click each tab to explore…

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Mythos Information

How Does Stone-Cold Heart tie in to the Mythos World?

(Warning: Potential Spoilers Below…)

Treasured Claim and Ironclad Devotion both referred to a war between the dragons and the faeries. Now, readers learn more about how that battle was fought—and how the gargoyles were involved.

This story refers to Lirdeag and the fate of his daughter, which both play a big role in Ironclad Devotion.

In Ironclad Devotion, Kira notes the lack of gargoyles in the faerie palace, and this story explains their absence. The same explanation lies behind Markos’s discovery of connections between some faeries and unicorns in Pure Sacrifice.

The elemental spirits of the faerie homeland and of Mythos itself are mentioned in Ironclad Devotion, and the earth spirits of the world are again important here.

The lamians cause trouble in both Ironclad Devotion and Stone-Cold Heart.

Behind the Scenes

Bonus Information: Background Research

(Warning: Potential Spoilers Below…)

Most details were based on real facts, and the major research and story inspiration involved with Raquel’s military experience can be found on the Military Info tab at the top of this section.

Other extensive research focused on PTSD symptoms/complications and treatment (such as Raquel’s reference to psychomotor therapy), burn scars and skin grafts, and Puerto Rican culture (including the recipe for mofongo).

Background Military Information aboutthe U.S. Army’s Cultural Support Teams

Some readers may wonder whether Raquel’s military experience—serving on the front lines of combat alongside a special operations team—is realistic. After all, until recent policy changes, the United States military didn’t allow servicewomen into combat situations.

However, female soldiers with special combat training were attached to those special operations units, skirting the letter of the law. From 2011 through 2014, approximately 200 female soldiers completed the rigorous Cultural Support Team training and embedded with U.S. special operation forces.

These women served, risked their lives, and—yes, in some cases—died. Yet even most in the U.S. Army have never heard of the CST program, so to learn more, here’s some of my research sources:

Legality of the CST program and coordination with the special operations teams:“These soldiers…could be there, legally, despite the ban on women in ground combat because they were “attached” to special operations teams, just not “assigned” to them. … “Those guys are your brothers…””

Learn more about the CST evaluation process:“The selection process borrows…the same problem-solving and physical tests used to weed out Special Forces candidates. … It’s as much a mental test as it is a physical one.”

“CSTs weren’t only out there winning “hearts and minds” in the traditional sense. They were on nighttime combat operations, learning what Afghan women knew about what was happening in their communities and keeping them separated from the work Rangers were charged with doing nearby.”

Focus on CST member 1st Lt. Ashley White:“White was among her own. These were women who did CrossFit twice a day; whose favorite movies were “G.I. Jane” and “Black Hawk Down”; whose highest compliment was to regard a fellow female competitor as “a beast.””